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If SU3 JTHQMASJ!LLEMAY -. -( editor, avu pftoraiETOR C fnMi.ti4iaf vbaaanfc Siaia will ka r- a,w4Maaytaa VMUIBMLDllUktHt aak- aariatiaa ia4aaaa . RATES Or ADVBKTISINU. fjc ttj (.- (aat aara4tag IS IimmM aba r tya rl rctiaa.aaa dollar, aaak ,atarlaB,tait.BMai . ..: i , Ta WMniwanti Clerfct aad Sbarith will - kM'(4 SJ pmr aa(.a.r ,aae aa'aiiiao S3) a,r aaat. will mwimtram iba rcgnUr fti h mi far a4ier rar. -. . " - fij- UHtrrti taa Editor cT ba l-d. ' ,. . ' . J ; - mwmm 3;, , ;;. 't : V. .,: , .. J NosTn CaroUSa Powerful ia moral, ia uicllecttud, sad in phyucal resourtres hud of ew sifts, tai the horn of our affections , Vol. XXXIII , - v ' 3 '.v..':- ; RALEIGH N; C. WEDNESDAY, AUO.? 10, 184Z -j-j- -J"- j-i-j -U'..4-i. JJ ' - LECTURE, ?'' RftAD TO THK R ALL Kill MECHANICS ASSOl'lATlOH, ;., ' "- on theU 4tm anniversary, July 1 IS 12: U '". - 1 ' BY WM-W.OLDEN, ESQ. .OeKTLCifKff; i. ?-, ;. ; . . r,1- ij The aire is eminently practical and energetic, In every department of knowledge, and in all the avenues which Jcnd to wealth and happiaess and honor, the lights of expe dience are pouring in upon the darkness of conjecture; false- Itood is bowing beneath the sceptre and the djadem of truth; and men are beziiinfug to understand., more fully and pro parly, theifTrespoiisibililiea, absolute and relatire, and to ap reciato the powers, the hopes and the destinies of the tace. At no period, rerhitp. in the history of the world, nave me sciences oeen so intensely sinaiea ana so wiueiy disseminated as they are at present, ''And if what we have been accastomed to denominate antiquity be nothing more than the infancy of mankind, then indeed do we live in the jVlsrorana in me muuess oi nuic, wuea law ana orucmuu jbiriliiation, refined and purified by the fires o( a generous " Jreedom, and mellowed by the hand of Christianity, throw .'their broad shields at once over the richest and the poorest, ring no greater protection to the prince, amid th pomp . and the garniture w distinction, thun they do to the mechan ic and the ortizan, amid their perplexities, their toils aud their labours. . The sceptre of those who were once mighty to oppress the nations has-been broken like an unteoipered ipear; and the systems of, the dark ages, which rose slowly, but efTectiially, in the midst of blood, and carnage and disor der, have been torn and scattered to the winds of desolation. The feudal system where is it? . Ask the occupants of the loitering thro les of Europe, and the reluctant answer shall come forth, that the revival and extension of learning in the Meenth-ceiwu rvtj!t&.'m ? entioo pLprintin.ihetranscendftDt eloquence . of Martin Luther, and -the-progress Of liberal Opinions, mused mankind to a knowledge of their rights; 'and that sturdy esquire and baron bold, the stateliness and the grandeur of .feudal ceremonial, and the excitement and renown of .tilt arid tournament, repose in death amid the chambers of the mighty past'?', l-'t ' v ",;V . v- Under the. influence of that spirit of liberty which" over threw the feudal system, and exploded the doctrine of the divine right of Kings,' the 'arts and the scieucrs have re ceived, within the last century, the most powerful and hap py impulses. In the seience of law and government alone; the world has had. many and great expounders and champi ons of Justice and of Truth. The names of Pitt, Wash ington, Jefferson, Hamilton and Marshall among the dead, and of Bmngham. Kentj-Clayv Welwterj tirihoun and Van 13 ureo among the living, will long have a place in the affec tions anri piemories of men. YThe principles for which they itrupgleil-r-principles which bonsecrate the dead and render the living-dear unto us are the great lights towards which all civilized nations are approaching, and demanding, wilh a voice f louder, than the deejj In atonns,w,lhe. samo rights and privileges which belong: to the land of Washington aud Henry. And the voice of the down trodden shall be respect; ed. The fires of freedom, which are now glowing in their bosoms, shall ere long burst tip through' the shadows of re- . a .i . i n . t. ! i. . A . " . y- The benefits which have been conferred Upon man ryu the votaries of art and science, are almost ' incalculable. They have not only gratified his physical-wants, but opened new fields boundless and ever-during fields over which his mental faculties may linger, aiid-perpetually (rather ihe elements of freshness and delight., Tliey have done more than this; they have changed his ideas of human greatness. Fortified by the principles of a sound and practical philoso phy, and sensible of his tremendous responsibilities as a citi zen of. two worlds, the possessor of high intelligence how weighs every thing in the scnles of justice and of virtue, and estimates human greatness, not by the number of ; cities the aspirant for renown may have demolished, cor yet by the gore he mny have spilt, but by the amount of permanent and substantial benefit he may have contributed to confer upon mankinds Thus estimated, how little is Napoleon, and how (treat are Watt and Fulton! How does he sink hi the comparison! When the former had triumphed at Areola, and p anted his eagles upon the battlemenU of imperial Rome; when throue nfW throne had crumbled and gone diwa b-ujeiah the lightnings f hw ey when his battle thunders, rolling from, the Pyramids to the shores of the Bal .tie, had laid almost all Europe prostrate at his feet; and when, with the iron crown of Charlemagne upon his brow, he was revelling, in anticipation, amid all the pomp and splendor and majesty of universal empire, the astiished spectator might have fancied, that, as he . was the controller.of the destinies of nations, so, he was also their greatest benefactor, and that be was not more the favorite of fortune in his contentions for dominion, than in the extraordinary facility with which. he beni learning ana an aim science 10 uic penormance oi hit will.-' "Yet what gnropean -what American llionght wfien gazing npon the wanderfu' achievements of the child of destiny, that long before this prodigy of valour saw' the Jight,1 there had been approximating to perfection an inven tion which wus to he rendered of more practical importance to the world than al) the chieftains that ver rose, or reigned, or fell) Napoleon perished in the mids f the splendid vi sions of his high ambition, leaving no enduring memorial of his affection for mankind; 1ut Watt aud Fulton have wrought a benefit, which will raise emotions of admiration and grati tude in the human bosom, wheresoever their names shall be uttered throughout all coming time.. ; - - ; As late as the seventeenth century but little progress had been made in practical philosophy. The doctrines of Aris totle had obtained absolute sway tor two thousand venrs, affd were every where regarded, up to that period, with pro found respect. They taught men to believe in matter, form and privation as the origin of all things; that the heavens Vere self-existeut and incorruptible; and that all the stars were whirled round the earth in solid orb. This system of 'philosophy was purely abstract; and the disciples of Aris totle, in extending and refining it, plunged into deeper and stronger meshes of doubt and difficulty than any in which ha thid been entangled. But doubt w tlie parent -of knowl edge. ' As the years rolled onward, mighty champions sprang ii pop the theatre of the world, to contend for the prevalence f4 truth and rational, philosophy. The revival of learning, the power ofthe press, aud the reformation, diffused living and broad streams of light npon I Iks minds of trcu; and the improvements of Gilbert, Kepiar and Gulileo, were but pre ludes U the important and useful discoveries of Cacon, who, rising in tlic seventeenth century above alt the great teachers of uiaukiud, established a system of philosophy purely ex perimental a system which has superseded all the sense- , TU FUing Pctiion.JL Louden pjr toys, "Daniel OooJt, who u eiacuit.f. was fond of boves, anil considered a food jndft of iheiB. Arsptainof the nary, with horn Goods formerly lireU obuincd petw raimkft to see him in Nswgata one dy. Oa finding himselfia fiUeell. thesoa horn m'ofihe sailor prevailed and said VIf Ooode, there is no use now ia alluding W your vnhappy situation. Have yoe sny idea which horse will win the Derby!" Goode'a reply was Ah, sir! I wish they Would let fn smi the Derbv tuh hefnra thfv Karr Mf . . j a . I eould men uis nsppy. ' - . less larjron and wild eofljceturwi of the dark agea of the (ion to the acquaintance thev form with the elementarv u. - .u.J-, l:.zi. AJti:-,. . . world. The resultof Bacon's discoveries has been thestudr t,rinciole. at h.i,T l , tir,.KB, . ' I mml c . V"! ?n' cari M no is nnoer mo uecssuy oi paying a tax (a tne go- and of producing what is called his mAsjer piece, bfteu rejected.And in Englandiuutil the reign of- jOeorga the Third, every mechanic was bpnnd to tho soil by coinnmniion oi experience wun caicuiannn ana reasoning. . :. . , - . , , . ' uivi.mii, nh . " . k H. . . 57 fitr nil tnnmnl .Anil.lMfnnn. tmrllW .Iim uM.AnM Af n.nn1,.M 1 : i nere are cenam propeni assigned ty iNatiiral Fhiioso- " " "" J......v w . v, uk.uu- vefnment, pny 10 an tomes, ana are hence caitea tneir essemlarproperi k. iw never const ructea - macniucana yct ne knows vwhich is iro. iiuucuvirauiiiiv, bxirusiooi r iirure, Livisisiui v, tuenifl now a niaciune onirni 10 do constructed, it is reiatea mat ction.' When we say a body is Impenetrable we 0n a certain occasion e distir guishod son of North Carolina X 5 ' V ? C , "u ' ' Y property it has of occupying a certain space, so " ""Jh SlTTJZll " tha "PerBt,on "J1 ,aw' But io coontrT mr i one body is another cannot wiihoutdi placing WJ in J.w n " mfhuc, end , journeyman mechanic has the privilege of, aspiring, at any we mean the length and breadth n,,, Pul . y a ww-m',,, r.snea inegreat not ,0 lhs eondtm 0f . master-workmun, but to ' iimus oi inrs n5.oD wojur". u. auow.ug mm pcrsonai.y ana oi lhe ,nest honort of he hai. .nd his personal freedom, aud Attraction. mean the that where the former. By extension and depth of bodies. The tute figure, and this figure or shape is necessarily either syra- conversing' with him face to face. The North Carolinian, metrical or irregular.. Divisibility is uothitig more than the genib 0f his inferiority to' Mr. Webster in law and litera- "rr : 'rr:r.7J:. r "'.I.;; gh he w not, perhaps, his inferior in natural althongh yon reduce ittoiu finest particles, yet t one of ewuve na me panicics win oe iosi, out win ex w in a separate siaie.1'ro vvinmouuu uu, hum auorcci iu uwcuauicai science, Inertia expresses the resistance which inactive matter makes and accordingly directed his attention to machinery in gen to a change of state. -The last property common to all bo-0nJr:iIld ,0 the conformation of 0w-mi7s In particular. uica is Burociinu. ji is wen hiiowii iiibi 111 iitium consul oil . ;, . i; ' , ... . . infinitely small particles, and that these particles possess the A"d " U ,n,d ,,e. wbqntlr declared, that Mr. Webster power of attracting each other. This is called the attraction ,old him more fcbout taw-mills lu one hour than he had of cohesion, because the particles adhere or stick together; learned in all his life. It Is said, moreover, that when the and without this power all solid bodies would fall to atoms; uui mere is anoiner property wnicn pervaaes an poaies can ed caloric or heat, and this, by, forcing them asunder, acts! port of Boston was to be gaged, no mechanic could be found who coivd do it, and that the task devolved upon an eminent eu i-uiurm vr utni, onu una, uy, lurviusc iiicui asuuunr, acta r - . . e - i -int ih. laaPiLn win unAtUm n fV"dg f Massachusetts, whose proficiency in mechanical these powers, preservei their particles io proper counteHwicnc wM proverbW. Ilndeed, this gentleman knew so poise.x.The attraction oCgravitatioois bat a modification rf niMch the attraction of cohesion; the latter acts upon particles, and hare his horse shod, his shoes mended, a hat made, or a at small distances; the former ou the largest bodies and house constructed, he never failed to inspiro the blacksmith, throughout the planetary system. And here we behold New, b flntHmnke , hm the carpenter with the convie ton in all his glory, looking out, apparently without indnc- . - ' " r- - ' .." 'i tioaor-Jinalysis, upon tho pouring aay over tne wnoie universe pi uoa i ii is saiu i crry ow uirvuumu m iuuwciiuaeiii. that when this great mnn was drawing to a close the dem onstration of the truth that gravity is the cause which keeps the heavenly bodies in their orbits, he was so over powered with the magnitude and importance of the discove ry, that he desired a friend to complete what the intensity of j ins own leeiiugs qiu noi permn nimiouo. V Of bodies these are therefore the essential properties upon which mechanical power has to act; and of the elementary powers of mechanic? there are six,' the lever, the pulley, the wheel and axle, the inclined plane,, the wedge end the screw. In order to direct and apply these powers, some contrivance or apparatus becomes neceesary, aud this is called a machine. By machine motion is applied, for the purpose ot changing the direction of the power, rendering a body in mntioij capa ble of communicating a motion greater or less than its own to other bodies, or for enabling ft to overcome ft power great er than its owor And alt these contrivances r machines work under gravity, acting on solid hodies, the fall of water, which is but gravity acting on fluids, air, heat and aqimal strength.'". " t f: : ; T.:'i : The arts' are 'considered ' as' departments of knowledge which hove' their origin in human ingenuity-,' which depend on the active or formative processes, of the human mind, and which, without these would not have existed.:? In com mon parlance, we apply the name of sciences to those de partments of knowledge which arc inore speculative or ab stract in their nature, and which are con versant with troths that exist at the time we contemplate them." . An eminent writer f Lord Brovsham) has said that sci ence mew knowledge reduced to a tyetemt 4hat is. ar ranged in ii regular order, so as to be conveniently taught, easily remembered, and readily applied. And the same writer has divided the sciences info three great classes: those which relate to number aud quantity, those which relate to mailer, and those which relate to mind. The first are called the Mathematics, 'and teach the properties of numbers and of figures; the .second, are called Natural Philosophy, and teach the properties of the various bodies which we are ocqiininted with by means of our senses; and the third are called Intellectual or Moral Philosophy, and teach the na ture of the mind, or in other words, the moral nature of man, both as an individual and as a member of society.: - It may be laid down as an indisputable axiom, that every met hanie should be a practical philosopher- that is, he should know enough of nature to enable him not merely to prosecute effectually his peculiar calling; but to invent and improve, and to extend the, limits of mechanical knowledge. And it is by no means necessary that s man should do no thing-else than study known truths and discover new, in or der to merit this high and noble title. The greatest philos ophers the world has ever seen were active, working men. They performed their days' work faithfully and skillfully, and amassed, during the evenings,' knowledge which ena bled them to go on in their vocations'wlth still greater fidel ity and skill. ,'. ...., ... . i.. " . Every yoiirjgmechanic,espcciatly,'should study that sci ence upon the principles of which his trade !s 1ased, and by which it is directed. If lie he a halter, a tanner, a dyer, a painter or a bleacher, a knowledge of chemistry will aid bim to nn indefinite extent. Andthe principle holds with, regard to every other trade. If he be carpenter, for in stance, he should study architecture' in all its branches, ful ly and thoroughly. If a mill-wnght, the mechanic powers should engage his attention; he should be well acquainted with the peculiar structure of wheels, so as to know how to accommodate them to certain falls of water, and if .the ma chinery is to be propelled by steam, which is but the vapor of water, or by water itself, he should stody the science of the motion and force of fluids, in order to render himself ca pable of applying them to practical purposes, . .; In this State, particularly, the great mass of the mechanic class pay too little attention to elementary principles; They do their work as their lathers did it before them, without knowing, in a great many cases, the fundamental principles by which they are guided and directed. . And often, gentle men who have no immediate and indispensable connection with the science of mechanics, know more about it than ma ny mechanics, who improve in their trades only iu propor- fiigtlow's Toetiaalogy. :: :-,:.' -:-- ".-y - :,:.: .,: '..', ,; .i;;-. ..-;. An intimate acquaintance with the laws of nature will show the mechanic bow to avoid attempting impossibilities; secure him from important mistakes in attempting what is, in' itself, iMtssibfe, by means either, inadequate or opposed to the end in view; enable him to accomplish his ends in the easiest, shortest,: most economical and effectual manner, and induce him to attempt,' and enable hint to accomplish, ob jects, which, bht for such knowledge, he would neve: have thought of undertaking. ; .: " : ? . . In the first place, if those who; have invented contrivan ces for obtaining perpetual motion, had known how to avoid attempting impossibilities if they had know that the taw of gravity was in their way, their labours" and ingenuity gbLhayeJ ses, and some great machine might now have attested the strength ond brilliancy of their genius. And how many important mistakes are made, by attempting things which are in themselves possible, by means either too slender, or opposed to the end to be accomplished 1 ; ,Tlie smelting of Iron, for example, requires the application, of the most vio lent heat that can be raised,, and is commonly performed in tall furnaces, urged by great iron bellows, driven by steam engine. 1 Instead of employing (Lis power to force air in fo the furnace, through the intervention of bellows, it was, on one occasion, attempted to employ the steam itself, in, apparently much less circuitous manner, by directing the current of steam in a violent blast from the boiler at once into (he fire. From one of the known ingredients of steam beings highly Inflammable body, and the other that essen tial part of the air which supports combustion," it was ima gined that this would have the effect of increasing the fire to tenfold fury, whereas it simply blew it out; a result which ft alight consideration of the laws of chemical combination and the state in which the ingredient elements exist in steam, would have enabled any one to predict without a trial. , Another illustration, from the same author, to show that every mechanic ought to know his science welt, ifi order to accomplish his ends in the easiest and most effectual man ner, may not he inappropriate. ' In some parts of France, where mill-stones are made, mass of stone sufficiently large is cut into a cylinder several feet high, and the question then arises how to subdivide thii into horizontal pieces,' so as to make as many milt-stones. For Ibis purpose horizon tal indentations or grooves are chiselled out quite round the cylinder, at distances, corresponding to 4he thickness intend ed to be given to the mill-etones, into which wedges of dried wood are driven, v The wedges are then wetted, or exposed to the night, dew", and next morning the different pieces are found separated from each other by the expansion of the wood, consequent on its absorption of moisture; an jrrcsiat' able natural power thus accomplishing, almost without any trouble, and at no experise, Jan..operatlon. which, irom the pev lhar hardness and texture of the stone, would otherwise be impracticable bnt by the most powerful machinery or the most persevering labor ' . '" '-' ' .''; A knowledge of the sciences ought to be acquired, not on ly because it give an individual great advantage over bis neighbors in a pecuniary sense, but because it elevates and enlarges his mind, and makes him more competent to dis charge his duties as a member of society. And in this country, almost every mechanic has an opportunity as well of learning the scientifical principles of his trade, ns of be coming highly Qseful and honorable in any sphere or pro lesaion of life. Here he labors under none of the peculiar and severe restrictions which are imposed upon the mechan ics of Europe, ; No one, I have been informed, however well skilled he may be in his trade, is allowed to set up as a master-workman in Germany, until he has travelled or wander ed for the space of three years. For the purpose of enabling the journeyman to wander, xithout being molested or de layed, the master with whom he has served his apprentice ship, furnishes him'with a dnly authenticated wandering book, and he is sent forth to beg for work or starve. During this period of painful and oppressive pilgrimage, he visits at Mr. Hcrsaktll sa Natsrsl PtUosoahy. whilst hawoks no injury to bis fellow-citizens, is as unrth strieted as tbe'wiudsrv K T v - 'f- - Man is combinajfdn W body' and aoul. ((.organized beings have in common with him animal powers and fro Densities; but they are guided by instinct, he by renron; they ... .... . . . . . a. .t. turi i no oarm, 1. 1 iuuk i niajesna ana ueaveuwara. (.Jur serve the bee, for example. , It possesses instinctive tendeu- ' cies fo mam about the fields, and to exert its energies in la bor,. and the honey it gathers Is not more essentiaTfhs subsistence than' knowledge is to human' enjoyment and,' happiness. And how skilful a mason is the bee 1 What human mechanism can rival the order and beauty of its ' cell the regularity and textura of its pillars or the ele- s gance of the golden arches it constructs? And yet it is as perfect when ft begins to wpr as it ever is." But upon man nature has bestowed certain faculties which enable him hot only to provide for his physical wants, bnt to improve and elevate his conditionby intellectual eflbrt and exert urn'.;--Art - is never perfect; and nature spreads before man the sources of convenience and of power, and intlles him to (he pursuit of knowledge as an indispensable pre-reqtiisite to happiness. Science epeus the great treasury of things to art;' and art, ni turn, drawing her implements thence, confers upon science the means by which she may explore new fields, and revest new treasures for tho benefit and melioration of mankind. Nor has nature, in requiriug of man . the exercise of all his faculties, in order td bo happy, exhibited A contracted or pe nurious spirit. ' Sho might, indeed, have covered the earth with glorious palaces, made all the hills transparent, and peopled the oceau with forms of living and resplendent beau- : tyj shemlght have so mingled cold and heat as. to have placed him hi nn atmosphere perpetually pleasant and salu brious, and given him all, and more than all, the enjoyments . tfYifa. for whir 1 1 ha tall aa hard and h inemtannllv 1 Tint she knew that to "be happy, he iHt be industrious; and whilst she withholds from him an lunate knowledge of her laws, she-gives him powers, which, by activa exercise, may yet understand those laws, and wield them to his advantage " and felicity."' 5 ' ( ' . ' Perhaps no principle' ought to be More indelibly Impressed upon the human mind than that which recognizes the true nobility of labor. If order be heaven's first law, thou ihalt labor ' was heaven's' first great command. 'Let no man be ashamed of a hard hand or sun-burnt countenance. , Let ' r......,. t..T. . .. ... s . ..... uui iuiiici cuii iu ma vuiiviviium i.iut ne turnci nuuu una dally the incontestable evidences that he lives, not by fraud, chicanery and speculation, but ' by the sweat of his brow. , Labor is honorable because It is ordained of the Creator; it is honorable because by it we provide things , honestly in the sight of all men; it it honorable because it is useful; and it is useful because it adds to the common stock of things, and preserves both the body and tho mind in healthful exercise. Labor Is to this conutry what action was to the great A thenian orator it is every tiling; and no measure should be put down, by the clamours of sectional prejudice, or by any thing else, which promises to protect or encourage or sus tain it. ' , " . . ," ' The greatest men the world has ever produced were working-men. Cafo, the celebrated Roman Senator, owned a farm and labored with his own hands. And Peter the' Great, Napoleon, Sir Walter Scott and Franklin, were all remarkable, in their day, lor the steadiness and intensity . with which they labored. ' Peter the great actually served on apprenticeship for the purpose of learning the art of ship building; and Russia, at this tery hour, owes mora than half her greatness to the genius and industry of this great mon arch. : Let the winds carry it; let it be told every where; and let honest laborers, in all coming time, feel proud when they, remember, that the . founder of St. Petersburgb- tfye des- vcijuuui vi uciui mm wiuiin.a iimu arena " mi ii jc ruliu mov- i'ng cause of the renown and prosperity of a mighty empire, was oncer a voIuntary, a lowly tenant f the work-shop. Napoleon, out of twenty-four boara.'. labored eighteen; and during his campaigns, his mind, was so vigorous and so well trained, that he could write himself and at the same time dictate to seven secretaries with regard to matters of (tie most momentous character. : Sir Walter Scott, when the sun of his fame was shiuDg in meridian splendour, and when M Waverly" wo on every lip, wos actively engaged both in writing for the public, and in dischargiug his duties . as high sherm and clerk of a court in Scotland. And Franklin who has not heard ot him? Who does not know that he was a hard-worker? , His was a life of toil and dif- -ficulty from its commencement almost to its termination; but armed with honesty, integrity, and honor,. he pressed' forward manfully over all impediments, until he discovered the secrets of lightning, and "wrote his name where all men should behold it and where all time should not efface it." And let it not be supposed that there are no laborers but those who toil with their hands. The labor of themidd is as nseful and as much needed, at all times and in ail coun tries, as the labor of the body; and one hour of mental ef-: fort exhausts the physical powers more than five hours of ' unremitted manual labor. And those who do not seem to
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
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